Karera | [ Stacey x OC (F) ]

C35 - The Architect

Louise's POV

7:00 am - Mckinley Hills

I woke up to a pounding headache, the kind that reminded me of every drink I had last night. Groaning, I turned to check the time, my heart racing when I saw the clock. 7 am. My body moved on it's own, shooting out of bed so quickly that the rush of pain in my head nearly made me fall back.

"Aww." I winced, clutching my temples.

"That's what you get for drinking too much." a familiar voice teased.

Lumingon ako at nakita si Aiah, leaning casually against the doorframe, her arms crossed and a knowing smile on her face. She looked too put together for this early in the morning, wearing one of her usual crisp outfits that made her look effortlessly chic.

"Your meeting is until 9 AM." she continued. "Javi told me. You still have time, so calm down. Let's eat breakfast first."

With that, she walked off, leaving me stunned. How did she end up here? The hazy memories of last night began to trickle in— her taking care of me, calming me down, and eventually driving me home.

I sighed, dragging a hand down my face in embarrassment. "Great, Louise. Just great." Shaking my head at my own behavior, I made my way to the bathroom to wash up.

Inside, I splashed cold water on my face, brushed my teeth, and stared at my reflection for a long moment. My tired eyes and the faint shadows beneath them told me all I needed to know— I was a mess.

Once I felt somewhat human again, I stepped out to find Aiah in the kitchen, moving around with practiced ease. She was setting the table, a mix of dishes already laid out, and for a brief second, I felt... at peace.

She glanced at me and motioned for me to sit. "You've got plenty of food in your fridge, pero hindi mo ginagalaw." she scolded lightly. "You need to eat normally, Lou."

Scratching the back of my neck, I gave her a sheepish smile. "Yes, miss ma'am."

"Now eat." she said firmly, placing a glass of water and some painkillers in front of me. "Here. Take this first bago ka kumain. Coffee?"

Tumango ako, grateful for her care despite my embarrassment.

While I took the pills, she busied herself brewing coffee. I waited for her to finish so we could eat together, watching her move around with quiet efficiency. It felt oddly... domestic.

When she finally sat across from me with her own plate, I dug into the food, savoring the taste. "This is good." I mumbled between bites.

"You'd know if you actually cooked once in a while." she quipped, smirking.

After breakfast, I insisted on cleaning up while she went to shower. It gave me a moment to clear my head and distract myself from how much I'd leaned on her last night.

When Aiah came out, her hair slightly damp and her outfit immaculate, I gave her a thumbs-up. "Looking good."

"I know right? Your turn." She said, smirking back.

I headed to the bathroom, showering quickly and picking out my usual work attire. A white polo shirt, dark slacks, and a blazer. Hanging my tie loosely around my neck, I stepped out to find Aiah waiting, scrolling through her phone.